Fastening for shoes, leggings, gloves, and the like.



H. A. NAYLOR.

FASTENING FOR SHOES, LEGGINGS, GLOVES, AND THE.L|KE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1916.

Patentd Oct. 24,1916. i

HENRY A. NAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FASTENING FOB. SHOES, LEGGINGS, GLOVES, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.'

Application filed May 2, 1916. Serial No. 94,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. NAYLOR, a subject of Great Britain, and now resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fastenings for Shoes, Leggings, Gloves, and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved fastening for shoes, leggings, gaiters, gloves, and similar wearing apparel where a strong, durable, and at the same time, yielding and flexible fastening is desired.

My improved device is specially applicable to boots and shoes, and it is an object of the invention to provide a pair of cooperating metallic fastening members which will have means to prevent catching or tearing the apparel of the wearer, and yet which will be maintained constantly in engagement during the flexing and movement of the shoe and wearers foot therein.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide cooperating metallic hook mem bers which may be readily attached or detached from each other and which will remain in hooked engagement through a normally acting yielding-tension or spring directly from the attaching means which retains the cooperating hook members on to the opposite sides of the shoe lacing openings. This spring feature is of value and importance because the two cooperating members will remain in hooked engagement during a considerable range of movement of the shoe parts and because the foot of the wearer is entirely relieved from undue strain or inconvenience from the metallic members, said members being preferably entirely supported by the attaching means, such as eyelets.

In carrying out my invention I may either form the hook attaching members integral with a suitable attaching device such as the shoe eyelet and flange which is ordinarily employed in securing lacing studs to boots and shoes. This has the further advantage of enabling my improved fastening to be set by the present hook setting machines in general use.

Further details of the invention and advantages will be hereinafter further pointed out and claimed. Y

Referring to the drawings, illustratin vliigs. 4 and 5 are plan and cross sectional views respectively of a slightly modified form, Fig. 5 being on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

While I have herein illustrated my novel fastening devices as applied to a boot and shoe, it will, of course, be understood that I am not so limited, but that it is within the scope of the invention to utilize this novel type of fastening for similar uses, such as wearlng apparel of many kinds, gloves, raincoats, gaiters, corsets, and the like.

Referring to the drawings, a fragmentary portion of the opposite sides of a boot and shoe upper is indicated at 1 and 2 and the lacing tongue 3, to which upper portions are attached the cooperating fastening devices comprising a hook member 4 and its attaching eyelet 5 securing the same to the portion.

1 of the shoe upper, and aneye member 6 with its attaching eyelet portion 7 secured to the'upper portion 2. Preferably each eyelet portion 5 and 7 has the usual retaining flange 8 and upsetting or clenching flange 9, so that the fastening devices may be secured to the upper by any of the well-known eyelet or lacing hook setting machines now in use. The hook member 4 I prefer to form of substantially elongated or oval shape, having a hook 10 at its forward portion with a rounded end adapted to fit upon and engage the corresponding eye portion, as shown at 11. Both the hook 10 and eye engaging portion 11 are preferably so formed to cotiperate with each other and substantially fill the hook opening and thus prevent the catching of any wearing apparel thereon. I also prefer to form these members 4 and 6 with openings therethrough, as indicated at 12- and 13, so that each member will be light, strong, and of attractive appearance and may be ornamented, nickeled, lacquered, or otherwise finished to match the wearing apparel with which they are used. Cross bars 14, 14, on the members 4 and 6 are provided which are adapted to cooperate with a hearing or spring member 15 on each eyelet flange, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. This affords a strengthening, reinforcing, and

' spring tension member for thetop fastening devices 4 and 6, holding the hook part 10 and cooperating eye 11 freeof the tohgue 3 and hence of the foot and acting as a fulcrum or spring bearing over which the fastening members 4 and 6 may be pressed to hold the hook and eye ends under yielding tension. This feature is of special importance as I find that it enables the flexing of either side of the upper throughout a considerable range of movement to be freely made without disengaging the hook and eye portions of my fastening device. Thus the shoe and foot may yield under the movements incident to walking, running or jumping without disengaging the fastening device and yet permitting full freedom of movement of the wearer. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a similar pair of attaching devices, only with the feasible, since the bearing members 15'hold thehook well above the tongue and hence above the foot and prevent the same from rubbing against the wearer. This constructionis especially advantageous as a noncatching hook on boots and shoes for ladies wear.

In- Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modification wherein the eyelet member 21 of usual type is used to secure the fastening members 22 and 23, which fastening members may be of the hook and eye type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, .or of the underturned hook type illustrated in Fig. 3. In the form of fastening deviceshown in Figs. 4 and 5 I prefer to make the fastening devices independently of the attaching eyelet, forming each member with a bottom portion 24 adapted to encircle the barrel of the eyelet 21 to be engaged by the flange 25 of the eyelet, which flange is of greater diameter than the opening in the portion 24. The forward member of each bottom portion 24 is upturned as shown in Fig. 5 at 26 to constitute a bearing for the cross bar of the fastening members, in a similar manner to that already described in connection with the preceding figures.

The fastening devices of my invention are further capable of economical manufacture, being readily stamped out from sheet material andbent into suitable shape while cold. The bearing members 15 or 26, while preferably formed on. the eyelet setting or bottom portion of the device, may, of course,

be formed directly on the crossbar of the fastening members and project downwardly,

bearing uponthe setting flange of the eyelet, or, as in the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, on the bottom part 24. However, I prefer to form these bearing members substantially as shown in the drawings and consider that making same integrally with the top members is a mere reversal of parts and therefore within'the scope of the appended claim.

It will be appreciated that my novel form of fastening devices eliminates entirely the necessity for shoe lacing, cords or the like;

formed of any suitable wear-resisting substance having suflicient tensile strength and .ductility to be employed for the purpose de scribed. I have in mind particularly the adaptability of such materials as celluloid, bone, vulcanized rubber, or the like. In such modified forms it will be appreciated that the fastening device is firm, strong, and

substantially indestructible, as distinguished from the prior lacing cords, which quickly frayed out.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of a'claim as follows:

As an article of manufacture, metallichook andeye fastener members, each mem- I ber comprising a fastener part cooperating with the other member, means to secure the same to stock, and a projecting combined spring and guard, formed integrally with said member to constitute a metallic support for the fastener part, being rigidly supported adjacent said securing means. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

ENRY A. NAYLOR. Witnesses:

JAMES R. HoDDnR, HAROLD J. CLARK. 

